What’s
this? Another new music venue in downtown Albany? Well, not
exactly. The recently opened 33 Degrees went for the old one-two,
opting for the early-term name switch. And, we must say, the
new moniker (Red Square) is much more suitable to the space—33
Degrees just sounded so Jillian’s. It looks like there’s
a good thing going here, and we can only recommend you go
see for yourself. Tonight would be a good time to do so, as
Red Square welcomes Manhattan-based band JD & the Straight
Shot to the stage. The band’s debut album, Nothing to Hide,
is a competent, if not incendiary, collection of blues-rock
originals. They’re fronted by Jim Dolan, the guy who runs
both Madison Square Garden and Cablevision. Wait, he’s
got the blues? Come on. (Sept. 22, 8 PM, $10, 388 Broadway,
Albany, 432-8584)

The
Gordon Stone Band

WAMC
Performing Arts Studio, Friday

Ten
or more years ago, Gordon Stone was a commodity, his musical
talent as a banjo picker and steel pedal guitarist craved
by megastars like Phish, who invited Stone to perform on the
albums A Picture of Nectar and Rift. Since then,
Stone has brought his ambition to a new height with the creation
of his “funkabilly newgrass” band, the Gordon Stone Band.
His music relishes in the eclectic; his entirely instrumental
repertoire delves into aspects of jazz, funk, blues, bluegrass,
and even Latin and salsa beats. Together with his troupe,
including bassist Aram Bedrosian and fiddler Mike Barnett,
Gordon Stone impresses the ears of a wide variety of fans.
Says Phish bassist Mike Gordon, “Their music lifted me up
and carried me away. . . . I became so absorbed that I forgot
to swallow.” (Sept. 23, 8 PM, $12, 339 Central Ave., Albany,
465-5233)

The
Rudds CD release

Valentine’s,
Friday

Beantown’s
been good to John Powhida. Since moving to the city on the
hahbah three-or-so years ago, the former Staziak frontman
has seen his star rise significantly. A perfunctory rifling
through the press clippings that accompany Get the Femuline
Hang On (the second release from Powhida’s current band,
the Rudds) finds feature-length profiles of the man and his
band from the likes of The Boston Phoenix, Boston
Herald, and Boston Globe. That’s quite the trifecta,
so what’s with all the hype? Simple: The Rudds are one of
the best power-pop bands to come out of a city that has produced
some of the genre’s all-time greats, and Hang On is
a damn fine record. But don’t take our word for it—catch the
band in action this weekend as they unveil the new wax for
the locals. The Day Jobs open. (Sept. 23, 9 PM, $5, 17
New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)

Terence
Blanchard

The
Egg, Saturday

Trumpeter
Terence Blanchard is from New Orleans. It’s worth mentioning
this up front, not so much to talk about the way the city’s
rich musical tradition has informed his playing—which it has—but
because of, obviously, the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, and
how that has informed his recent performances. Philadelphia
Inquirer critic Kevin L. Carter described how, in a Sept.
9 show, Blanchard dedicated a poignant version of “I Thought
About You” to his hometown. As Carter wrote, that song isn’t,
structurally, a blues—it is, as per the lyrics, a lament—but
Blanchard imbued it with a bluesy feeling. Carter took pains
to point out that the show wasn’t all deep emotions—you can
look forward to sharing the excitement of music from his most
recent album, Flow, on Saturday night—but, like much
of our popular culture right now, the multiple facets of Katrina
will be on everyone’s minds. (Sept. 24, 8 PM, $24, Empire
State Plaza, Albany, 473-1845)

tim
fite

The
Pernice Brothers, Tim Fite

Valentine’s,
Sunday

“What
the hell do you mean by feel-good album?” are the words out
of Joe Pernice’s mouth after hearing his bandmates’ reactions
to their new album, Discover a Lovelier You. The “feel-good”
comment could perhaps come from his MFA in writing (his lyrics
are laced with poetic language) or the fact that the album’s
songs were inspired by such figures as Duran Duran, George
Harrison and, yes, Claire Danes (one track on the album titled
“My So-Called Celibate Life” is a mixture of Danes’ 90’s television
show and the Shins song “Celibate Life.”) The Pernice Brothers
show promises to be an eclectic one, with a mix of indie-pop,
’70s rock, and waltzes. Opening the show is Brooklyn-based
songwriter Tim Fite, who—if press materials are to be believed—was
born without blood. Regardless of the PR machine, his debut
album (Gone Ain’t Gone) is a darn good’un. (Sep.
25, 8 PM, $10, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)

Stryper

Northern
Lights, Sunday

Sunday,
the day of rest? No, dude, Sunday is the day of rock.
Christian rock, though, so it’s OK. The godly Stryper suffered
the same waning interest as other pop-metal acts when the
leaner, more aggressive sounds of Metallica, Guns N’ Roses,
et. al, hit the scene; and like those other acts—Britny Fox,
Cinderella, Girlschool—they were pretty much blown off the
musical map in the early ’90s by Nirvana and the other grungesters.
But suffering ain’t nothing to the Christians. There were
crises of musical faith, sure, but in a perfect metaphorical
congruence, Stryper have returned—with a new album titled
Reborn. Now, can they get a witness? (Sept. 25,
7:30 PM, $20, 1208 Route 146, Clifton Park, 371-0012)

Also
Noted

youth
group

Buzz-heavy
Australian band Youth Group will pay a
visit to Revolution Hall this evening (Thursday),
on the eve of a two-week opening stint with indie-rock
godhead Death Cab for Cutie. From the few tracks
we’ve heard, their new album (Skeleton Jar)
nails the sound and energy of the early Sloan
records, which is a very nice thing. Edison
and Crimea are also on tonight’s bill (8
PM, $8, 273-2337). . . . Snuggly alt-country group
the Luxury Flats will head up a bill at
Valentine’s tonight that also features Himalaya
and Kelli Hicks (9 PM, $5, 432-6572). .
. . The third go-round of the Ska Is Dead tour
makes a stop at Saratoga Winners tonight; the
current version features headliners Catch 22
and the Toasters, with the Planet Smashers,
Westbound Train, and Kicking Sicily
helping to establish ambience (7 PM, $12, 783-1010).
. . . Meedly-meedly-meeee! Al DiMeola will
unleash a jazz-fusion tornado at the Egg tomorrow
(Friday, 473-1845). . . . None more pink: Darkest
Side of the Moon performs at Northern Lights
on Friday; as you might have guessed, they’re
a tribute act (7:30 PM, $18, 371-0012). . . .
The now-less-psychedelic Breakfast will
playRev Hall on Friday; Rezi opens
(273-2337). . . . John Cruz, the 2005 Grammy
winner for Best Hawaiian Music Album, plays the
Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, Mass., on
Tuesday (7 PM, $13, 413-584-0610).